UNFOLD Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

unfold

verb

ˌən-ˈfōld

Definition of unfold

as in to expand

to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area carefully unfold that antique map so that it doesn't tear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to evolve

to gradually become clearer or more detailed as the situation unfolded, it became clear that more help would be needed the movie became more interesting once the mystery began to unfold

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to bloom

to produce flowers the rosebud unfolded literally overnight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to appear

to come into view the majestic landscape unfolded before us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of unfold This does not go unnoticed by Britt (Isabelle Bonfrer), a bartender who watches it unfold with quiet amusement. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 The attack unfolded early Sunday evening on White Star Circle just outside Billings at a home owned by victims Dana Smith, 73, and Barbara Smith, 72, officials said. — David K. Li, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 The story can work on two levels—as a straightforward plot, usually culminating in a big match or competition, and as a gradually unfolding character study. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 And all of it unfolded as Bohm sues his parents for alleged financial mismanagement. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfold

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfold

Verb

Earlier this month, Spotify announced plans to expand its own AI labeling, focusing on telling users when an artist is artificial rather than specific songs.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
Longtime American soccer reporter Pablo Maurer’s story outlines a potential 20-team competition that expands the postseason field by two while also adding incentives for teams to finish higher in the table.

— Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of expand

Verb

Since then, it’s evolved into a broader and more inclusive health and wellness platform.

— Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 24 Aug. 2026
At the same time, the expert acknowledges that our brains haven’t evolved to process the enormous, nearly constant barrage of information coming from our devices.

— Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of evolve

Verb

When bulbs start growing and blooming in spring or summer, water them only when the soil feels dry to the touch and rainfall is scarce.

— Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
The American public distrusts its legal institutions and media outlets, creating a vacuum in which wild conjecture can bloom.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of bloom

Verb

Another explanation is that there could be changes over time in diagnosis and reporting, or there could be other biological factors underlying why this condition appears to be increasing.

— Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Downsizing With brands like Slate entering the market, automakers appear to be hearing the call for cheaper options.

— Beth Livesay, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of appear

Verb

The collective process involved in the making of even one film is extended by the electric impact of films placed in juxtaposition.

— Geoffrey O’Brien, The New York Review of Books, 22 Aug. 2026
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner extended his contract at Inter Miami last October, tying him to the Major League Soccer side through the 2028 season.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of extend

Verb

The deal amid Utah’s growing push for advanced nuclear power.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Aug. 2026
As her anger and resistance grow, her body begins to transform into porcelain, becoming a powerful symbol of her silent rebellion and her fight to reclaim her own identity.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of grow

Verb

Booking information from Clark County Detention Center in Nevada shows Hughes in custody with no bail, with a hearing before a judge scheduled for Thursday morning.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
The arrest comes just over 24 hours after the NYPD released surveillance footage on Monday showing Guzman Soto slowly walking through the lobby of his mother’s apartment building wheeling a small suitcase.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of show

Browse Nearby Words

unfocused

unfold

unfolded

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unfold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfold. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of unfold

verb

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